Diverticulitis And Celiac

[tutu's mommy]

I do not know if I have Celiac. Have a history of thyroid problems (take meds everyday), had surgery 4 yrs ago for endometriosis. My 9 yr old and I had allergy blood tests done mostly because she was having bladder pain issues, but I had been on HCG diet and had developed some allergies. She came back allergic to wheat and sensitive to gluten and wheat, negative to celiac. I came back sensitive to wheat, but kinda expected that because I have had to be a low carber to lose weight and feel better for 10 years. Didn't think about testing for celiac though. Decided to go gluten free with my daughter in Feb 2011. Went on vacation with my husband at end of May 2011 & since she wasn't with me, I ate whatever I wanted. Got a stomach ache the first day thinking it was a stomach bug, so I cut back on food for a day, then felt better and ate whatever again. On 5th day, I felt like I was having ovarian cyst/endometriosis, but within 24 hours if felt like something different. Went to the ER and CT scan showed diverticulitis. Had iv antibiotics and flew home with a huge belly. At this point, I felt that the wheat/gluten might be involved so I went gluten-free. Took 25 days of antibiotics to recover. GI doctor said it had nothing to do with gluten, but stayed gluten-free until July 20 rolls around and went to visit parents - tried to stay gluten-free, but found it difficult when eating out once. 2 days later woke up with another diverticulitis attack. GI dr refers me to a surgeon (who said it has nothing to do with gluten) who wants to take out a foot of my colon. Decided to wait and see, but am now having my 4th attack within 6 months and afraid that I will eventually rupture. Don't know if I am celiac and need to be really really strict or if I just need the surgery and I'll be fine. What if I have surgery and go off gluten-free diet, but the gluten is what caused the diverticula in the first place. What do I do to find out if I am already gluten-free? PS - regarding my daughter - has anyone ever heard of food allergies causing pain with urination? She is still struggling.

[ButterflyChaser]

Ouch, hugs, tutu's mommy.

My grannie had diverticulitis, I think my mum has it, and a pediatrician suggested I had it as a baby (so I getting checked for that again). What I have observed, is that somehow cereals make it worse, and it may have nothing to do with intolerance/allergies. As she grew older, my grannie was miserable if she ate pasta. I am sorry you are going through so much pain.

If being gluten-free helps you avoiding attacks, do it. I don't know if gluten CAUSES diverticula, never really heard of it, but here's my two cents: if you can identify what behaviour controls your condition, why do you need to know what caused the condition? I used to feel like that, but then I realized that causes are usually multiple (genes, environment, sheer luck), and that even knowing what caused it would not make it go away - doing what heals would make it go away.

[nvsmom]

Ouch.

I don't know anything about diverticulitis, but I wanted to mention that your symptoms sound very much like my celiac symptoms: Pain within an hour of eating, bloating for days (people have mistaken me for pregnant... and I'm only about 10-20lbs overweight). And I too lost weight only on a low carb diet.

I would get tested if I was you. I would hate to have major surgery when I don't need it... if that's the case. I would eliminate celiac as a cause, or gluten intolerance, first. Test your daughter as well.

Best wishes.

[ncdave]

I had diverticulitis back in july of 2010, I feel for you its no fun. You said they found it by a ct scan. You have to have blood work done to find out if you have diverticulitis. I'm sure they did that at the er. My point is I thought it came back for me also, sure felt like it. But more blood worked showed it was gone. I" ve meet 2 people that had the same surgery your talking about, Its a pretty expensive surgery an after a follow up visit both were told they still had the "pockets" an the doctor said we should have taken 1 more inch out ! I suggest having the blood work done to see if you still have diverticulitis. I try to avoid seeds, the dr said it used to be belived that seeds got trapped in the pockets an caused div but now the medical community was about 50/50 on that theory.